LOWA, Missouri Master Naturalists form partnership program

The Lake of the Ozarks chapter of Missouri Master Naturalist is proud to announce the official kick-off of their partnership program.

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The Lake News Online

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Posted Aug. 1, 2013 at 8:15 AM

Posted Aug. 1, 2013 at 8:15 AM

Lake area

The Lake of the Ozarks chapter of Missouri Master Naturalist is proud to announce the official kick-off of their partnership program. Program partners have a compatible natural resource mission and provide program promotion or support in the form of training, volunteer service opportunities, or financial or in-kind contributions.

The first of these official partnerships was created with Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance (LOWA), when Lauri Peterson acted as the Missouri Master Naturalist liaison and presented a partnership recognition letter and certificate to Donna Swall (LOWA executive director) and Caroline Toole (LOWA program manager and Missouri Master Naturalist). LOWA is 501(c)(3) (non-profit) organization with the goal whose goal is: "Citizens will preserve, protect, and improve the Lake of the Ozarks, its Watershed and natural resources, while maintaining our economic, social, and environmental health."

Many Master Naturalists have already taken part in LOWA sponsored activities like hazardous waste collection days, school and public educational events, and the Trained Volunteer Evaluator program (that visits people wishing for advice on planting natives and landscaping to reduce storm water runoff). This formalization of our now official partnership commemorates the ongoing mutual benefits of our two organizations.

The chapter has been hard at work to make the concept of "partner" organizations more official. The effort has been spearheaded by Carolyn Solomon with the help of the Projects and Volunteer Service committee. An official letter of acknowledgment and a certificate commemorating the partnership were created.